





SENTIMENTAL m>0KE 



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C.J.DENNIS 



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CQEQUGHT DEPOSm 



DOREEN AND THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 



D O R E E N 

AND 
THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

By C. J. DENNIS 

Author of "BackUock Ballads and Other Verse" 



NEW YORK: JOHN LANE COMPANY 

TORONTO: S. B. GUNDY 

MCMXVI 






Copyright, ioi6, by 
JOHN LANE COMPANY 



f 



^■''- 



Press of 

J. J. Little & Ives Company 

New York, U.S. A. 



SEP 25 1916 

©CI,A437812 

n^ / 



To 
Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Roberts 



La vie est vaine: 
Un peu d/ amour, 
Un peu de haine . 
Et puis — honjour! 

La vie est hrhe: 
Un peu d^espoir, 
Un peu de rhe . . 
Et puis — honsoirt 



L4on Montenaeken. 



TO THOSE WHO HESITATE 

Of Making Many Books, 

There is no End. 

Brief is the Life of Most. 

Doreen will Live, for The Sentimental Bloke has, with Genuine 

Skill, set Chords Vibrating which are Eternal. 
As David Harum said, ** There is as much Human Nature in some 

Folks as there is in Others, if not More." 

S. B. G, 



CONTENTS 

PAGE 

I. A SPRING SONG 

The world 'as got me snouted jist a treat ... 13 

11. THE INTRO 

'Er name's Doreen . . . Well, spare me 
bloomin' days! ... 17 

III. DOREEN 

"I wish't yeh meant it, Bill." Oh, 'ow me 
'eart ... 22 

IV. THE PLAY 

"Wot's in a name?" she sez . . . An' then 
she sighs ... 25 

V. THE STROR 'AT COOT 

Ar, wimmin! Wot a blinded fool I've been! 30 

VI. THE SIREN 

She simg a song; an' I sat silent there ... 36 

VII. MAR 

"'Er pore dear Par," she sez, "'e kept a 
store" ... 41 



X CONTENTS 

PAGE 

VIII. PILOT COVE 

"Young friend," 'e sez . . . Yoiing friend! 
Well, spare me days! ... 47 

IX. HITCHED 

' ^ An' — ^wilt — yeh — take — this — woman — f er — 
to — be — ... 51 

X. BEEF TEA 

She never magged; she never said no word 57 

XI. UNCLE JIM 

"I got no time fer wasters, lad," sez 'e . . . 62 

XII. THE KID 

My son! . . . Them words, jist like a blessed 
song ... 68 

XIII. THE MOOCH O' LIFE 

This ev'nin' I was sittin' wiv Doreen ... 75 

THE GLOSSARY 81 



DOREEN AND THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 



A Spring Song 



THE world 'as got me snouted jist a treat; 
Crool Forchin's dirty left 'as smote me soul; 
An' all them joys o' life I 'eld so sweet 
Is up the pole. 
Fer, as the poit sez, me 'eart 'as got 
The pip wiv yearnin' fer — I dunno wot. 

I'm crook; me name is Mud; I've done me dash; 

Me flamin' spirit's got the flamin' 'ump ! 
I'm longin' to let loose on somethin' rash. , . . 

Aw, I'm a chump! 
I know it; but this blimed ole Springtime craze 
Fair outs me, on these dilly, silly days. 

The young green leaves is shootin' on the trees. 

The air is like a long, cool swig o' beer, 
The bonzer smell o' flow'rs is on the breeze, 

An' 'ere's me, 'ere, 
Jist moochin' round like some pore, barmy coot. 
Of 'ope, an' joy, an' forchin destichoot. 



13 



14 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

I've lorst me former joy in gittin' shick. 
Or 'eadin' browns ; I 'aven't got the 'eart 

To word a torn; an', square an' all, I'm sick 
Of that cheap tart 

'Oo chucks 'er carkis at a feller's 'ead 

An' mauls 'im . . . Ar! I wisht that I wus dead I . 

Ther's little breezes stirrin' in the leaves. 
An' sparrers chirpin' 'igh the 'ole day long; 

An' on the air a gad, sweet music breaves 
A bonzer song — 

A mournful sorter choon thet gits a bloke 

Fair in the brisket 'ere, an' makes 'im choke . , . 

What is the matter wiv me? ... I dunno, 

I got a sorter yeamin' 'ere inside, 
A dead-crook sorter thing that won't let go 

Or be denied — 
A feelin' like I want to do a break. 
An' stoush creation for some woman's sake. 

The little birds is chirpin' in the nest. 
The parks, an' gardings is a bosker sight. 

Where smilin' tarts walks up an' down, all dressed 
In clobber white. 

An', as their snowy forms goes steppin' by, 

It seems I'm seekin' somethin' on the sly. 



A SPRING SONG 15 

Sofnethin* of someone — I don't rightly know; 

But, seems to me, Fm kind er lookin' for 
A tart I knoo a 'undred years ago, 

Or, maybe, more. 
Wot's this I've 'eard them call that thing? . . . Geewhizz! 
Me ideel bit o' skirt! That's wot it isl 

Me ideel tart ! . » * An', bli'me, look at me ! 

Jist take a squiz at this, an' tell me can 
Some square an' honist torn take this to be 

'Er own true man? 
Aw, Gawd ! I'd be as true to 'er, I would — 
As straight an' stiddy as , . . Ar, wot's the good? 

Me, that 'as done me stretch fer stoushin' Johns, 

An' spen's me leisure gittin' on the shick, 
An' 'arf me nights down there, in Little Lons., 

Wiv Ginger Mick, 
Jist 'eadin' 'em, an' doin' in me gilt. 
Tough luck ! I s'pose it's 'ow a man is built. 

It's 'ow Gawd builds a bloke ; but don't it 'urt 

When 'e gits yearnin's fer this 'igher life. 
On these Spring mornin's, watchin' some sweet skirt — 

Some fucher wife — 
Go sailin' by, an' turnin' on his phiz 
The glarssy eye — fer bein' wot 'e is. 



fe5 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

Fve watched 'em walkin' in the gardings 'ere — • 
Cliners from orfices an' shops an' such ; 

The sorter skirts I dursn't come too near. 
Or dare to touch. 

An' when I see the kind er looks they carst . . . 

Gorstrooth ! Wot is the use o' me, I arst ? 

Wot wus I slung 'ere for? An' wot's the good 
Of yearnin' after any ideel tart? . . . 

Ar, if a bloke wus only understood ! 
'E's got a 'eart : 

'E's got a soul inside 'im, poor or rich. 

But wot's the use, when 'Eaven's crool'd 'is pitch? 

I tells meself some day I'll take a pull 

An' look eround fer some good, stiddy job, 

An' cut the push fer good an' all ; I'm full 
Of that crook mob! 

An', in some Spring the fucher 'olds in store, 

I'll cop me prize an' long in vain no more. 

The little winds is stirrin' in the trees. 
Where little birds is chantin' lovers' lays; 

The music of the sorft an' barmy breeze. . . . 
Aw, spare me days 1 

If this 'ere dilly feelin' doesn't stop 

I'll lose me block an' stoush some flamin' cop ! 



The Intro 



' "1 A R name's Doreen . . . Well, spare me bloomin' days I 
|-^ * You could er knocked me down wiv 'arf a brick 1 
X ^ Yes, me, that kids meself I know their ways, 

An* 'as a name for smoogin' in our click ! 
I just lines up an' tips the saucy wink. , 
But strike! The way she piled on dawg! Yer'd think 
A bloke was givin' back-chat to the Queen. . . . 
'Er name's Doreen. 

I seen 'er in the markit first uv all, 

Inspectin' brums at Steeny Isaacs' stall. 
I backs me barrer in — the same ole way — 
An' sez, "Wot O! It's been a bonzer day. 

'Ow is it fer a walk?" . . . Oh, 'oly wars! 

The sorter look she gimme! Jest becors 
I tried to chat 'er, like you'd make a start 
Wiv any tart. 



17 



18 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

An* I kin take me oaf I wus perlite, 

An* never said no word that wasn't right. 
An' never tried to maul 'er, or to do 
A thing yeh might call crook. Ter tell yeh true, 

I didn't seem to 'ave the nerve — wiv 'er. 

I felt as if I couldn't go that fur, 
An' start to sling off chiack like I used . . • 
Not intrajuiced! 

Nex' time I sighted 'er in Little Bourke, 
Where she was in a job. I found 'er lurk 
Wus pastin' labels in a pickle joint, 
A game that — any'ow, that ain't the point. 
Once more I tried ter chat 'er in the street. 
But, bli'me! Did she turn me down a treat! 
The way she tossed 'er 'ead an' swished 'er skirt ! 
Oh, it wus dirt! 

A squarer tom, I swear, I never seen. 

In all me natchril, than this 'ere Doreen. 
It wer'n't no guyver neither; fer I knoo 
That any other bloke 'ad Buckley's 'oo 

Tried fer to pick 'er up. Yes, she wus square. 

She jist sailed by an' lef me standin' there 
Like any mug. Thinks I, "I'm out er luck," 
An' done a duck. 



THE INTRO 19 

Well, I dunno. It's that way wiv a bloke. 
If she'd ha' breasted up ter me an' spoke, 

I'd thort *er jist a commin bit er fluff. 

An' then fergot about 'er, like enough. 
It's jest like this. The tarts that's 'ard ter get 
Makes you all 'ot to chase 'em, an' to let 

The cove called Cupid get an 'ammer-lock; 
An' lose yer block. 

I know a bloke 'oo knows a bloke 'oo toils 
In that same pickle found-ery. ('E boils 

The cabbitch storks or somethink.) Anyway, 

I gives me pal the orfis fer to say 
'E 'as a sister in the trade 'oo's been 
Out uv a jorb, an' wants ter meet Doreen; 

Then we kin get an intro, if we've luck. 
'E sez, "Ribuck." 

O' course we worked the oricle; you bet! 

But, struth, I ain't recovered frum it yet! 
'Twas on a Saturdee, in Colluns Street, 
An' — quite by accident, o' course — we meet. 

Me pal 'e trots 'er up an' does the toff — 

'E alius wus a bloke fer showin' off. 
"This 'ere's Doreen," 'e sez. "This 'ere's the Kid." 
I dips me lid. 



20 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

''This 'ere's Doreen," 'e sez. I sez "Good day." 
An', bli'me, I 'ad nothin' more ter say ! 

I couldn't speak a word, or meet 'er eye. 

Clean done me block ! I never been so shy, 
Not since I wus a tiny little cub, 
An' run the rabbit to the corner pub — 

Wot time the Summer days wus dry an' 'ot — 
Fer my ole pot. 

Me ! that 'as barracked tarts, an* torked an' larf t, 
An' chucked orf at 'em like a phonergraftl 

Gorstrooth! I seemed to lose me pow'r o' speech. 

But, 'er ! Oh, strike me pink I She is a peach ! 
The sweetest in the barrer! Spare me days, 
I cam't describe that diner's winnin' ways. 

The way she torks 1 'Er lips ! 'Er eyes 1 'Er hair ! 
Oh, gimme air I 

I dunno 'ow I done it in the end. 

I reckerlect I arst ter be 'er friend; 
An' tried ter play at 'andies in the park, 
A thing she wouldn't sight. Aw, it's a nark! 

I gotter swear when I think wot a mug 

I must 'a' seemed to 'er. But still I 'ug 

That promise that she give me fer the beach. 
The bonzer peach! 



THE INTRO 21 

Now, as the poit sez, the days drag by 

On ledding feet. I wish't they'd do a guy. 
I dunno 'ow I *ad the nerve ter speak, 
An' make that meet wiv 'er fer Sundee week! 

But strike ! It's funny wot a bloke '11 do 

When 'e's all out. . . . She's gorn, when I come-to. 
I'm yappin' to me cobber uv me mash. . . . 
I've done me dash! 

'Er name's Doreen. . . . An' me — that thort I knoo 
The ways uv tarts, an' all that smoogin' game ! 

An' so I ort; fer ain't I known a few? 
Yet some'ow ... I dunno. It ain't the same. 

I cam't tell wot it is ; but, all I know, 

I've dropped me bundle — an' I'm glad it's so. 
Fer when I come ter think uv wot I been. . . . 
'Er name's Doreen. 



I 



Doreen 



««X WISH'T yeh meant it, Bill." Oh, 'ow me 'eart 
Went out to 'er that ev'nin' on the beach. 
I knoo she weren't no ordinary tart. 
My little peach! 
I tell yeh, square an' all, me 'eart stood still 
To 'ear 'er say, "I wish't yeh meant it, Bill." 

To 'ear 'er voice! Its gentle sorter tone. 

Like soft dream-music of some Dago band. 
An' me all out; an' 'oldin' in me own 

'Er little 'and. 
An' 'ow she blushed! O, strike! it was divine 
The way she raised 'er shinin' eyes to mine. 

'Er eyes! Soft in the moon; such boshter eyes! 

An' when they sight a bloke . . . O, spare me days ! 
'E goes all loose inside; such glamor lies 

In 'er sweet gaze. 
It makes 'im all ashamed uv wot 'e's been 
To look inter the eyes of my Doreen. 



22 



DOREEN 23 

The wet sands glistened, an' the gleamin* moon 

Shone yeller on the sea, all streakin' down. 
A band was playin' some soft, dreamy toon; 

An' up the town 
We 'eard the distant tram-cars whir an' clash. 
An' there I told 'er 'ow I'd done me dash. 

"I wish't yeh meant it." 'Struth! And did I, fair? 

A bloke 'ud be a dawg to kid a skirt 
Like 'er. An' me well knowin' she was square. 

It 'ud be dirt! 
'Ed be no man to point wiv 'er, an' kid. 
I meant it honest ; an' she knoo I did. 

She knoo. I've done me block in on 'er, straight. 

A cove 'as got to think some time in life 
An' get some decent tart, ere it's too late, 

To be 'is wife. 
But, Gawd! 'Oo would 'a' thort it could 'a' been 
My luck to strike the likes of 'er? . . . Doreen! 

Aw, I can stand their chuckin' ofif, I can. 

It's 'ard; an' I'd delight to take 'em on. 
The dawgs ! But it gets that way wiv a man 

When 'e's fair gone. 
She'll sight no stoush ; an' so I 'ave to take 
Their mag, an' do a duck fer 'er sweet sake. 



24 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

Fer *er sweet sake IVe gone and chucked it clean 
The pubs and schools an' all that leery game. 
Fer when a bloke 'as come to know Doreen, 

It ain't the same. 
There's 'igher things, she sez, for blokes to do. 
An' I am 'arf believin' that it's true. 

Yes, 'igher things — that wus the way she spoke; 

An' when she looked at me I sorter felt 
That bosker feelin' that comes o'er a bloke. 

An' makes 'im melt; 
Makes 'im all 'ot to maul 'er, an' to shove 
'Is arms about 'er . . . Bli'me? but it's love! 

That's wot it is. An' when a man 'as grov;n 

Like that 'e gets a sorter yearn inside 
To be a little 'ero on 'is own; 

An' see the pride 
Glow in the eyes of 'er 'e calls 'is queen; 
An' 'ear 'er say 'e is a shine champeen. 

*T wish't yeh meant it," I can 'ear 'er yet, 

My bit o' fluff! The moon was shinin' bright, 
Tumin' the waves all yeller where it set — 

A bonzer night! 
The sparklin' sea all sorter gold an' green; 
An* on the pier the band — O, 'Ell! . . . Doreen! 



The Play 



**'\ "Y yOT'S in a name?" she sez . . . An' then she sighs. 
An' clasps 'er little 'ands, an' rolls 'er eyes. 
"A rose," she sez, "be any other name 
Would smell the same. 

Oh, w'erefore art you Romeo, young sir? 

Chuck yer ole pot, an' change yer moniker !" 



W 



Doreen an' me, we bin to see a show — 

The swell two-dollar touch. Bong tong, yeh know. 

A chair apiece wiv velvit on the seat; 

A slap-up treat. 

The drarmer's writ be Shakespeare, years ago. 

About a barmy goat called Romeo. 

"Lady, be yonder moon I swear !" sez 'e. 

An' then 'e climbs up on the balkiney; 

An' there they smooge a treat, wiv pretty words 

Like two love-birds. 

I nudge Doreen. She whispers, "Ain't it grand!" 

'Er eyes is shinin' ; an' I squeeze 'er 'and. 



25 



26 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

"Wofs in a name?" she sez. 'Struth, I dunno. 

Billo is just as good as Romeo. 

She may be Juli-er or Juli-et — 

'E loves 'er yet. 

If she's the tart 'e wants, then she's 'is queen, 

Names never count . . . But ar, I like "Doreen !" 

A sweeter, dearer sound I never 'eard; 
Ther's music 'angs around that little word, 
Doreen ! . . . But wot was this I starts to say 
About the play? 

I'm off me beat. But when a bloke's in love 
'Is thorts turns 'er way, like a 'omin' dove. 

This Romeo 'e's lurkin' wiv a crew — 

A dead tough crowd o' crooks — called Montague. 

'Is diner's push — wot's nicknamed Capulet — 

They 'as 'em set. 

Fair narks they are, jist like them back-street clicks. 

Ixcep' they fights wiv skewers 'stid o' bricks. 

Wot's in a name? Wot's in a string o' words? 
They scraps in ole Verona wiv the'r swords, 
An' never give a bloke a stray dog's chance. 
An' that's Romance. 

But when they deals it out wiv bricks an' boots 
In Little Lx)n., they're low, degraded broots. 



THE PLAY 27 

Wot's jist plain stoush wiv us, right 'ere to-day, 

Is "valler" if yer fur enough away. 

Some time, some writer bloke will do the trick 

Wiv Ginger Mick, 

Of Spadger's Lane. 'E'll be a Romeo, 

When 'e*s bin dead five 'undred years or so. 

Fair Juli-et, she gives 'er boy the tip. 

Sez she : "Don't sling that crowd o' mine no lip ; 

An' if you run agin a Capulet, 

Jist do a get," 

'E swears 'e's done wiv lash ; 'e'U chuck it clean. 

(Same as I done when I first met Doreen.) 

They smooge some more at that. Ar, strike me blue! 

It gimme Joes to sit an' watch them two ! 

'E'd break away an' start to say good-bye. 

An' then she'd sigh 

"Ow, Ro-me-o!" an' git a strangle-holt, 

An' 'ang around 'im like she feared 'e'd bolt. 

Nex' day 'e words a gorspil cove about 

A secrit weddin'; an' they plan it out. 

'E spots a piece about 'ow 'e's bewitched : 

Then they git 'itched . . . 

Now, 'ere's the place where I fair git the pip ! 

She's 'is for keeps, an' yet 'e lets 'er slip! 



28 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

Ar ! but 'e makes me sick ! A fair gazob ! 

'E's jist the glarsey on the soulful sob, 

'E'll sigh and spruik, an' 'owl a love-sick vow — 

(The silly cow!) 

But when 'e's got 'er, spliced an' on the straight, 

'E crools the pitch, an' tries to kid it's Fate. 

Aw! Fate me foot! Instid of slopin' soon 

As 'e was wed, off on 'is 'oneymoon, 

'Im an' 'is cobber, called Mick Curio, 

They *ave to go 

An' mix it wiv that push o' Capulets. 

They look fer trouble; an' it's wot they gets. 

A tug named Tyball (cousin to the skirt) 

Sprags 'em an' makes a start to sling off dirt. 

Nex' minnit there's a reel ole ding-dong go — 

'Arf round or so. 

Mick Curio, 'e gets it in the neck, 

"Ar rats !" 'e sez, an' passes in 'is check. 

Quite natchril, Romeo gits wet as 'ell. 

"It's me or you!" 'e 'owls, an' wiv a yell, 

Plunks Tyball through the gizzard wiv 'is sword, 

'Ow I ongcored! 

"Put in the boot!" I sez. "Put in the boot!" 

"Ushl" sez Doreen . . . "Shame!" sez some silly coot. 



THE PLAY 29 

Then Romeo, *e dunno wot to do. 

The cops gits busy, like they allwiz do. 

An' nose around until 'e gits blue funk 

An' does a bunk. 

They wants 'is tart to wed some other guy. 

"Ah, strike!" she sez. "I wish that I could die!" 

Now, this 'ere gorspil bloke's a fair shrewd 'ead. 

Sez 'e "I'll dope yeh, so they'll think yer dead." 

(I tips 'e was a cunnin' sort, wot knoo 

A thing or two.) 

She takes 'is knock-out drops, up in 'er room: 

They think she's snuffed, an' plant 'er in 'er tomb. 

Then things gits mixed a treat an' starts to whirl. 

*Ere's Romeo comes back an' finds 'is girl 

Tucked in 'er little coffing, cold an' stiff, 

An' in a jiff, 

'E swallers lysol, throws a fancy fit, 

'Ead over turkey, an' 'is soul 'as flit. 

Then Juli-et wakes up an' sees 'im there. 
Turns on the water-works an' tears 'er 'air, 
"Dear love," she sez, "I cannot live alone!" 
An' wif a moan. 

She grabs 'is pockit knife, an' ends 'er cares . . . 
''Peanuts or lollies T sez a boy upstairs. 



The Stror 'at Coot 



AR, wimmin ! Wot a blinded fool I've been ! 
I arsts meself, wot else could I ixpeck? 
I done me block complete on this Doreen, 
An' now me 'eart is broke, me life's a wreck! 
The dreams I dreamed, the dilly thorts I thunk 
Is up the pole, an' joy 'as done a bunk. 

Wimmin ! O strike ! I orter known the game I 
Their tricks is crook, their arts is all dead snide. 

The 'ole world over tarts is all the same; 
All soft an' smilin' wiv no 'eart inside. 

But she fair doped me wiv' er winnin' ways. 

Then crooled me pitch fer all me mortal days. 

They're all the same ! A man 'as got to be 
Stric' master if 'e wants to snare 'em sure. 

'E 'as to take a stand an' let 'em see 
That triflin' is a thing 'e won't indure. 

'E wants to show 'em that 'e 'olds command, 

So they will smooge an' feed out of 'is 'and. 



30 



THE STROR 'AT COOT 31 

'E needs to make 'em feel 'e is the boss, 

An' kid 'e's careless uv the joys they give. 
'E 'as to make 'em think 'e'll feel no loss 

To part wiv any tart 'e's trackin' wiv. 
That all their pretty ways is crook pretence 
Is plain to any bloke wiv common sense. 

But when the birds is nestin' in the spring, 
An' when the soft green leaves is in the bud, 

'E drops 'is bundle to some fluffy thing. 
'E pays 'er 'omage — an' 'is name is Mud. 

She plays wiv 'im an' kids 'im on a treat. 

Until she 'as 'im crawlin' at 'er feet. 

An' then, when 'e's fair orf 'is top wiv love. 

When she 'as got 'im good an' 'ad 'er fun, 
She slings 'im over like a carst-orf glove, 

To let the other tarts see wot she's done. 
All vanity, deceit an' 'eartless kid ! 
I orter known ; an', spare me days, I did ! 

I knoo. But when I looked into 'er eyes — 
Them shinin' eyes o' blue all soft wiv love — 

Wiv mimic love — they seemed to 'ipnertize. 
I wus content to place 'er 'igh above. 

I wus content to make of 'er a queen ; 

An' so she seemed them days . . . O, 'struth ! . . . Doreen ! 



32 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

I knoo. But when I stroked 'er glossy ^air 
Wiv rev'rint 'ands, 'er cheek pressed close to mine. 

Me lonely life seemed robbed of all its care; 
I dreams me dreams, an' 'ope begun to shine. 

An' when she 'eld 'er lips f er me to kiss. . . . 

Ar, wot's the use? I'm done wiv all o' this! 

Wimmin! . . . Oh, I ain't jealous! Spare me days! 

Me? Jealous uv a knock-kneed coot like that! 
'Im ! Wiv 'is cute stror 'at an' pretty ways ! 

I'd be a mug to squeal or whip the cat. 
I'm glad, I am — glad 'cos I know I'm free ! 
There ain't no call to tork o' jealousy. 

I tells meself I'm well out o' the game ; 

Fer look, I mighter married 'er — an' then. . . . 
Ar strike ! 'Er voice wus music when my name 

Wus on 'er lips on them glad ev'nin's when 
We useter meet. An' then to think she'd go. . . .. 
No, I ain't jealous — ^but — Ar, I dunno! 

I took a derry on this stror- 'at coot 

First time I seen 'im dodgin' round Doreen. 
'Im, wiv 'is giddy tie an' Yankee soot, 

Ferever yappin' like a tork-machine 
About "The Hoffis" where 'e 'ad a grip. . . . 
The way 'e smiled at 'er give me the pip! 



THE STROR 'AT COOT 33 

She sez I stoushed 'im, when I promised fair 

To chuck it, even to a friendly spar. 
Stoushed 'im! I never roughed 'is pretty 'air! 

I only spanked 'im gentle, fer 'is mar. 
If I'd 'a' jabbed 'im once, there would 'a' been 
An inquest ; an' I sez so to Doreen. 

I mighter took an' cracked 'im in the street, 
When she was wiv 'im there lars' Fridee night. 

But don't I keep me temper when we meet? 
An' don't I raise me lid an' act perlite? 

I only jerks me elbow in 'is ribs. 

To give the gentle office to 'is nibs. 

Stoushed 'im ! I owns I met 'im on the quite, 

An' worded 'im about a small affair ; 
An' when 'e won't put up 'is 'ands to fight — 

('E sez, "Fer public brawls 'e didn't care") — 
I lays 'im 'cross me knee, the mother's joy, 
An* smacks 'im 'earty, like a naughty boy. 

An' now Doreen she sez I've broke me vow. 

An' mags about this coot's pore, "wounded pride." 

An' then, o' course, we 'as a ding-dong row, 
Wiv 'ot an' stormy words on either sida 

She sez I done it outer jealousy. 

An' so, we parts fer ever — 'er an' me. 



34 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

Me jealous? Jealous of that cross-eyed cow! 

I set 'im 'cos I couldn't sight 'is face. 
'Is yappin' fair got on me nerves, some'ow. 

I couldn't stand 'im 'angin' round 'er place. 
A coot like that! . . . But it don't matter much, 
She's welkim to 'im if she fancies such. 

I swear I'll never track wiv 'er no more; 

I'll never look on 'er side o' the street — 
Unless she comes an' begs me pardin for 

Them things she said to me in angry 'eat. 
She can't ixpeck fer me to smooge an' crawl. 
I ain't at any woman's beck an' call. 

Wimmin ! I've took a tumble to their game. 

I've got the 'ole bang tribe o' diners set ! 
The 'ole world over they are all the same: 

Crook to the core the bunch of 'em — an' yet, 
We could 'a' been that 'appy, 'er an' me . . . 
But wot's it matter? Ain't I glad I'm free? 

A bloke wiv commin-sense 'as got to own 
There's little 'appiness in married life. 

The smoogin' game is better left alone, 
Fer tarts is few that makes the ideel wife. 

An' them's the sort that loves wivout disguise. 

An' thinks the sun shines in their 'usbans' eyes. 



THE STROR 'AT COOT 35 

But when the birds is matin' in the spring, 

An' when the tender leaves begin to bud, 
A feelin' comes — a dilly sorter thing — 

That seems to sorter swamp 'im like a flood. 
An' when the fever 'ere inside 'im burns, 
Then freedom ain't the thing fer wot 'e yearns. 

But I 'ave chucked it all. An' yet — I own 

I dreams me dreams when soft Spring breezes stirs; 

An' often, when I'm moonin' 'ere alone, 
A lispin' maid, wiv 'air an' eyes like 'ers, 

'Oo calls me "dad," she climbs upon me knee, 

An' yaps 'er pretty baby tork to me. 

I sorter see a little 'ouse, it seems, 
Wiv someone waitin' for me at the gate . . . 

Ar, where's the sense in dreamin' barmy dreams, 
I've dreamed before, and nearly woke too late, 

Sich 'appiness could never last fer long, 

We're strangers — 'less she owns that she was wrong. 

To call 'er back I'll never lift a 'and; 

She'll never 'ear frum me by word or sign. 
Per'aps, some day, she'll come to understand 

The mess she's made o' this 'ere life o' mine. 
Oh, I ain't much to look at, I admit. 
But 'im ! The knock-kneed, swivel-eyed misfit ! . . . 



The Siren 



SHE sung a song; an' I sat silent there, 
Wiv bofe 'ands grippin' 'ard on to me chair; 
Me 'eart, that yesterdee I thort wus broke 
Wiv 'umpin' sich a 'eavy load o' care, 
Come swellin' in me throat like I would choke. 
I felt 'ot blushes climbin' to me 'air. 

'Twas like that feelin' when the Spring wind breaves 
Sad music in the sof'ly rustlin' leaves. 

An* when a bloke sits down an* starts to chew 
Crook thorts, wivout quite knowin' why 'e grieves 

Fer things 'e's done 'e didn't ort to do — 
Fair winded wiv the 'eavy sighs 'e 'eaves. 

She sung a song; an' orl at once I seen 
The kind o' crool an' 'eartless broot I been. 

In ev'ry word I read it like a book — 
The slanter game I'd played wiv my Doreen — 

I 'eard it in 'er song; an' in 'er look 
I seen wot made me feel fair rotten mean. 



36 



THE SIREN 37 

Poor, 'urt Doreen! My tender bit o' fluff t 

Ar, men don't understand; they're fur too rough; 

Their ways is fur too coarse wiv lovin' tarts ; 
They never gives 'em symperthy enough. 

They treats 'em 'arsh; they tramples on their 'earts; 
Becos their own crool 'earts is leather-tough. 

She sung a song; an' orl them bitter things 
That chewin' over lovers' quarrils brings 

Guv place to thorts of sorrer an' remorse. 
Like when some dilly punter goes an' slings 

Ts larst, lone deener on some stiffened 'orse, 
An* learns them vain regrets wot 'urts an' stings. 

'Twas at a beano where I lobs along 

To drown them memories o' fancied wrong. 

I swears I never knoo that she'd be there. 
But when I met 'er eye — O, 'struth, 'twas strong ! 

'Twas bitter strong, that jolt o' dull despair! 
'Er look o' scorn! . . . An' then, she sung a song. 

The choon was one o' them sad, mournful things 
That ketch yeh in the bellers 'ere, and brings 

Tears to yer eyes. The words was uv a tart 
'Oo's trackin' wiv a silly coot 'oo slings 

'Er love aside, an' breaks 'er tender 'eart. . . . 
But 'twasn't that; it was the way she sings. 



38 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

To 'ear *er voice! ... A bloke 'ud be a log 
'Oo kep' 'is block. Me mind wus in a fog 

Of sorrer for to think 'ow I wus wrong 
Ar, I 'ave been a fair ungrateful 'og ! 

The feelin' that she put into that song 
'Ud melt the 'eart-strings of a chiner dog. 

I listens wiv me 'eart up in me throat; 
I drunk in ev'ry word an' ev'ry note. 

Tears trembles in 'er voice when she tells 'ow 
That tart snuffed out becos 'e never wrote. 

An' then I seen 'ow I wus like that cow. 
Wiv suddin shame me guilty soul wus smote. 

Doreen she never looked my way; but stood 
'Arf turned away, an' beefed it out reel good, 

Until she sang that bit about the grave; 
"Too late 'e learned 'e 'ad misunderstood!" 

An' then — Gorstrooth! The pleadin' look she gave 
Fair in me face 'ud melt a 'eart o' wood. 

I dunno 'ow I seen that evenin' thro'. 
They muster thort I wus 'arf shick, I knoo. 

But I 'ad 'urt Doreen wivout no call; 
I seen me dooty, wot I 'ad to do. 

O, strike! I could 'a' blubbed before 'em all! 
But I sat tight, an' never cracked a boo. 



THE SIREN 39 

An' when at larst the tarts they makes a rise, 
A lop-eared coot wiv 'air down to 'is eyes 

'E 'ooks on to Doreen, an' starts to roam 
Far 'ome an' muvver. I lines up an' cries, 

" 'An's orf ! I'm seein' this 'ere cliner 'ome !" 
An' there we left 'im, gapin' wiv surprise. 

She never spoke; she never said no word; 
But walked beside me like she never 'eard. 

I swallers 'ard, an' starts to coax an' plead, 
I sez I'm dead ashamed o' wot's occurred. 

She don't reply; she never takes no 'eed; 
Jist stares before 'er like a startled bird. 

I tells 'er, never can no irvver tart 
Be 'arf wot she is, if we 'ave to part. 

I tells 'er that me life will be a wreck. 
It ain't no go. But when I makes a start 

To walk away, 'er arms is roun' me neck. 
"Ah, Kid!" she sobs. "Yeh nearly broke me 'eart!" 

I dunno wot I done or wot I said. 

But 'struth ! I'll not forgit it till I'm dead— 

That night when 'ope back in me brisket lobs : 
'Ow my Doreen she lays 'er little 'ead 

Down on me shoulder 'ere, an' sobs an' sobs; 
An' orl the lights goes sorter blurred an' red. 



40 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

Say, square an' all — It don't seem right, some'ow. 
To say such things ; but wot Fm feelin' now 

'As come at times, I s'pose, to uvver men — 
When you 'ave 'ad a reel ole ding-dong row, 

Say, ain't it bonzer makin' up agen? 
Straight wire, it's almost worth . . . Ar, I'm a cow! 

To think I'd ever seek to 'arm a 'air 
Of 'er dear 'ead agen ! My oath, I swear 

No more I'll roust on 'er in angry 'eat! 
But still, she never seemed to me so fair; 

She never wus so tender or so sweet 
As when she smooged beneath the lamplight there. 

She's never been so lovin' wiv 'er gaze; 
So gentle wiv 'er pretty wimmin's ways. 

I tells 'er she's me queen, me angel, too. 
"Ah, no, I ain't no angel, Kid," she says. 

"I'm jist a woman, an' loves yeh true I 
An' so I'll love yeh all me mortal days!" 

She sung a song. . . . 'Ere, in me barmy style, 
I sets orl tarts; for in me hour o' trile 

Me soul was withered be a woman's frown, 
An' broodin' care come roostin' on me dile. 

She sung a song . . . Me 'eart, wiv woe carst down, 
Wus raised to 'Eaven be a woman's smile. 



E 



Mar 



R pore dear Par," she sez, " 'e kept a store ;'* 
An' then she weeps an' stares 'ard at the floor. 

" 'Twas thro' 'is death," she sez, "we wus re juiced 
To this," she sez . . . An' then she weeps some more. 



'' 'Er Par," she sez, "me poor late 'usband, kept 
An 'ay an' corn store. 'E'd no faults ixcept 

*Im fallin' 'eavy orf a load o' charf 
W'ich — killed 'im — on the " 'Struth! But 'ow she wept. 

She blows 'er nose an' sniffs. " 'E would 'a' made," 
She sez, "a lot of money in the trade. 

But, 'im took orf so sudden-like, we found 
'E 'adn't kept 'is life insurince paid. 

*'To think," she sez, "a child o' mine should be 
Rejuiced to workin' in a factory! 

If 'er pore Par 'e 'adn't died," she sobs . . . 
I sez, "It wus a bit o' luck for me." 



41 



42 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

Then I gits red as *ell, "That is — I mean," 
I sez, 'T mighter never met Doreen 

If 'e 'ad not" — an' 'ere I lose me block — 
"I 'ope," I sez, " 'e snuffed it quick and clean." 

An' that wus 'ow I made me first deboo. 
I'd dodged it cunnin' fer a month or two. 

Doreen she sez, "You'll 'ave to meet my Mar, 
Some day," she sez. An' so I seen it thro'. 

I'd pictered some stern female in a cap 

Wot puts the fear o' Gawd into a chap. 

An' 'ere she wus, aweepin' in 'er tea 

An' drippin' moistcher like a leaky tap. 

Two dilly sorter dawgs made outer delf 
Stares 'ard at me frum orf the mantelshelf. 

I seemed to symperthise wiv them there pups; 
I felt so stiff an' brittle-like meself. 

Clobber? Me trosso, 'ead to foot, wus noo— 
Got up regardless, fer this interview. 

Stiff shirt, a Yankee soot split up the back, 
A tie wiv yeller spots an' stripes o' blue. 



MAR 43 

Me cuffs kep' playin* wiv me nervis fears, 
Me patent leathers nearly brought the tears, 

An* there I sits wiv, "Yes, mum. Thanks. Indeed?" 
Me stand-up collar sorin' orf me ears. 

"Life's 'ard," she sez, an' then she brightens up. 
"Still, we 'ave alwus 'ad our bite and sup. 

Doreen's been sich a help ; she 'as indeed. 
Some more tea, Willy? 'Ave another cup." 

Willy! O 'ell! 'Ere wus a flamin' pill! 
A moniker that alwus makes me ill. 

"If it's the same to you, mum," I replies 
"I answer quicker to the name of Bill." 

Up goes 'er 'ands an' eyes, "That vulgar name! 
No, Willy, but it isn't all the same. 

My fucher son must be respectable." 
"Orright," I sez, "I s'pose it's in the game." 

"Me fucher son," she sez, "right on frum this 
Must not take anythink I say amiss. 
I know me jooty be me son-in-lor; 
So, Willy, come an' give yer Mar a kiss." 



44 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

I done it. Tho' I dunno 'ow I did. 
"Dear boy," she sez, "to do as you are bid. 
Be kind to 'er," she sobs, "my little girl!" 
An' then I kiss Doreen. Sez she "Ah Kid!" 



Doreen! Ar 'ow *er pretty eyes did shine. 
No sight on earth or 'Eaving's 'arf so fine. 

An' as they looked at me she seemed to say 
"I'm proud of 'im, I am, an' 'e is mine." 

There wus a sorter glimmer in 'er eye. 
An 'appy, nervis look, 'arf proud, 'arf shy; 

I seen 'er in me mind be'ind the cups 
In our own little kipsie, bye an' bye. 

An' then when Mar-in-lor an' me began 

To tork of 'ouse'old things an' scheme an' plan, 

A sudden thort fair jolts me where I live: 
"These is my wimmin folk! An' I'm a man! 

It's wot they calls responsibility. 
All of a 'eap that f eelin' come to me ; 

An' somew'ere in me 'ead I seemed to feel 
A sneakin' sort o' wish that I was free. 



j> 



MAR 45 

*Ere's me 'oo never took no 'eed o' life, 
Investin' in a mar-in-lor an' wife: 

Someone to battle fer besides meself, 
Somethink to love an' shield frum care and strife. 

It makes yeh solim when yeh come to think 

Wot love and marridge means. Ar, strike me pink! 

It ain't all sighs and kisses. It's yer life. 
An* 'ere's me tremblin' on the bloomin' brink. 



" 'Er pore dead Par," she sez, an' gulps a sob. 
An' then I tells *er 'ow I got a job. 

As storeman down at Jones' printin' joint, 
A decent sorter cop at fifty bob. 

Then things get 'ome-like; an' we torks till late. 
An' tries to tease Doreen to fix the date, 
An' she gits suddin soft and tender-like, 
An' cries a bit, when we parts at the gate. 

An' as I'm moochin' 'omeward frum the car 
A suddin notion stops me wiv a jar — 

Wot if Doreen, I thinks, should grow to be 
A fat ole weepin' wilier like 'er Mar! 



46 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

O, 'struth! It won^t bear thinkin' of! It's crook! 
An' I'm a mean, unfeelin' dawg to look 

At things like that. Doreen's Doreen to me, 
The sweetest peach on w'ich a man wus shook. 

'Er "pore dear Par" ... I s'pose 'e 'ad 'is day. 
An' kissed an' smooged an' loved 'er in 'is way. 

An' wed an' took 'is chances like a man — 
But, Gawd, this splicin' racket ain't all play. 

Love is a gamble, an' there ain't no certs. 
Some day, I s'pose, I'll git wise to the skirts. 

An' learn to take the bitter wiv the sweet . . . 
But, strike me purple! "Willie!" That's wot 'urts. 



Y 



Pilot Cove 



**"^ T^OUNG friend," *e sez . . . Young friend! Well, spare 
me days! 
Yeh*d think I wus *is own white-'eaded boy — 
The queer ole finger, wiv 'is gentle ways. 
"Young friend," *e sez, "I wish't yeh bofe great joy." 
The langwidge that them parson blokes imploy 
Fair tickles me. The way 'e bleats an' brays ! 
"Young friend," 'e sez. 

"Young friend," 'e sez . . . Yes, my Doreen an' me 
We're gettin' hitched, all straight an' on the square, 

Far when I torks about the registry — 

O 'oly wars ! yeh should 'a' seen 'er stare ; 
"The registry?" she sez, "I wouldn't dare! 

I know a clergyman we'll go an' see" . . . 
"Young friend," 'e sez. 

"Young friend," 'e sez. An' then 'e chats me straight ; 

An' spouts of death, an' 'ell, an' mortal sins. 
"You reckernize this step you contemplate 



47 



48 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

Is grave?" 'e sez. An' I jist stan's an' grins; 
Fer when I chips, Doreen she kicks me shins. 
"Yes, very 'oly is the married state. 

Young friend," 'e sez. 

"Young friend," 'e sez. An' then 'e mags a lot 
Of jooty an' the spiritchuil Hfe, 

To which I didn't tumble worth a jot. 

"I'm sure," 'e sez, "as you will 'ave a wife 
'Oo'll 'ave a noble infl'ince on yer life." 

" 'Oo is 'er gardjin?" I sez, " 'Er ole pot"— 
"Young friend!" 'e sez. 

"Young friend," 'e sez, "oh fix yer thorts on 'igh ! 

Orl marridges is registered up there! 
An' you must cleave unto 'er till yeh die. 

An' cherish 'er wiv love an' tender care. 

E'en in the days when she's no longer fair 
She's still yer wife," 'e sez. "Ribuck," sez I. 
''Young friend T 'e sez. 

"Young friend," 'e sez — I sez, "Now, listen 'ere: 
This isn't one o' them impetchus leaps. 

.There ain't no tart a 'undreth part so dear 

As 'er. She 'as me 'eart an' soul fer keeps !" 
An' then Doreen, she turns away an' weeps ; 

But 'e jist smiles. "Yer deep in love, 'tis clear. 
Young friend," 'e sez. 



PILOT COVE 49 

"Young friend," 'e sez — an' tears wus in 'is eyes — ^ 
"Strive 'ard. Fer many, many years I've lived. 

An' I kin but recall wiv tears an' sighs 

The lives of some I've seen in marridge gived." 

"My Gawd!" I sez. "I'll strive as no bloke strivved! 

Fer don't I know^ I've copped a bonzer prize?" 
"Young friend I" 'e sez. 

"Young friend," 'e sez. An' in 'is gentle way, 

'E pats the shoulder of my dear Doreen. 
"I've solem'ized grand weddin's in me day. 

But 'ere's the sweetest little maid I've seen. 

She's fit fer any man, to be 'is queen; 
An* you're more forchinit than you kin say, 
Young friend," 'e sez. 

"Young friend," 'e sez ... A queer ole pilot bloke, 

Wiv silver 'air. The gentle way 'e dealt 
Wiv 'er, the soft an' kindly way 'e spoke 

To my Doreen, 'ud make a statcher melt. 

I tell yeh, square an' all. I sorter felt 
A kiddish kind o' feelin' like I'd choke . . . 
"Young friend," 'e sez. 

"Young friend," 'e sez, "you two on Choosday week, 

Is to be joined in very 'oly bonds. 
To break them vows I 'opes yeh'll never seek; 



so THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

Fer I could curse them 'usbands 'oo absconds!" 
"I'll love 'er till I snuff it," I responds. 
*'Ah, that's the way I likes to 'ear yeh speak. 
Young friend," 'e sez. 

"Young friend," 'e sez — an' then me 'and 'e grips — 
"I wish't yeh luck, you an' yer lady fair. 

Sweet maid." An' sof'ly wiv 'is finger-tips, 
'E takes an' strokes me diner's shinin' 'air. 
An' when I seen 'er standin' blushin' there, 

I turns an' kisses 'er, fair on the lips. 

"Young friend !" 'e sez. 



A 



Hitched 



** /^ N' — wilt — yeh — take — this — woman — fer — to be — 

Yer — weddid — wife?" . . . O, strike me! Will 

wot? 

Take 'er? Doreen? 'E Stan's there arstin' me! 
As if 'e thort per'aps I'd rather not ! 
. Take 'er? 'E seemed to think 'er kind was got 
Like cigarette-cards, fer the arstin'. Still, 
I does me stunt in this 'ere hitchin' rot, 
An' speaks me piece : "Righto !" I sez, "I will." 

*'l will," I sez. An' tho' a joyful shout 

Come from me bustin' 'eart — I know it did — 
Me voice got sorter mangled comin' out, 

An' makes me whisper like a frightened kid. 

'*! will," I squeaks. An' I'd 'a' give a quid 
To 'ad it on the quite, wivout this fuss. 

An' orl the starin' crowd that Mar 'ad bid 
To see this solim hitchin' up of us. 



^1 



52 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

"Fer — rich-er — er — fer — poor-er." So 'e bleats. 

"In — sick-ness — an' — in — 'ealth/' . . . An' there I stands, 
An' dunno 'arf the chatter I repeats, 

Nor wot the 'ell to do wiv my two 'ands. 

But 'e don't 'urry puttin' on our brands — 
This white-'aired pilot-bloke — but gives it lip, 

Dressed in 'is little shirt, wiv frills an' bands. 
"In sick-ness — ^an' — in — " Ar ! I got the pip ! 

An' once I missed me turn; an' Ginger Mick, 

'Oo's my best-man, 'e ups an' beefs it out. 
"I will !" 'e 'owls ; an' fetches me a kick. 

"Your turn to chin!" 'e tips wiv a shout. 

An' there I'm standin' like a gawky lout. 
(Aw, spare me ! But I seemed to be all 'ands!). 

An' wonders wot 'e's goin' crook about, 
Wiv 'arf a mind to crack 'im where 'e stands. 

O, lumme ! But ole Ginger was a trick ! 

Got up regardless fer the solim rite. 
('E 'awks the bunnies when 'e toils, does Mick) 

An' twice I saw 'im feelin' fer a light 

To start a fag; an' trembles lest 'e might. 
Thro' force o' habit like. 'E's nervis too ; 

That's plain, fer orl 'is air o' bluff an' skite; 
An' jist as keen as me to see it thro'. 



HITCHED 53 

But, 'struth, the wimmin ! 'Ow they love this frill ! 

Fer Auntie Liz, an' Mar, o' course, wus there; 
An' Mar's two uncles' wives, an' Cousin Lil, 

An' 'arf a dozen more to grin and stare. 

I couldn't make me 'ands fit anywhere 1 
I felt like I wus up afore the Beak! 

But my Doreen she never turns a 'air, 
Nor misses once when it's 'er turn to speak. 

Ar, strike! No more swell marridges fer me! 

It seems a blinded year afore 'e's done. 
We could 'a' fixed it in the registree 

Twice over 'fore this cove 'ad 'arf begun. 

I s'pose the wimmin git some sorter fun 
Wiv all this guyver, an' 'is nibs's shirt. 

But, seems to me, it takes the bloomin' bun, 
This stylish splicin' uv a bloke an' skirt. 

"To — be — yer — weddid — wife — " Aw, take a pull ! 

Wot in the 'ell's 'e think I come there for? 
An' so 'e drawls an' drones until I'm full, 

An' wants to do a duck clean out the door. 

An' yet, fer orl 'is 'igh-falutin' jor, 
Ole Snowy wus a reel good-meanin' bloke. 

If 'twasn't fer the 'oly look 'e wore 
Yeh'd think 'e piled it on jist fer a joke. 



54 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

An', when at last 'e shuts 'is little book, 

I 'eaves a sigh that nearly bust me vest. 
But 'Eavens ! Now 'ere's muvver goin' crook ! 

An' sobbin' awful on me manly chest! 

(I wish she'd give them water- works a rest.) 
''My little girl!" she 'owls. "O, treat 'er well! 

She's young — too young to leave 'er muvver's nest !' 
"Orright, ole chook," I nearly sez. O, 'ell ! 

An' then we 'as a beano up at Mar's — 

A slap-up feed, wiv wine an' two big geese. 
Doreen sits next ter me, 'er eyes like stars. 

O, 'ow I wished their blessed yap would cease! 

The Parson-bloke 'e speaks a little piece, 
That makes me blush an' 'ang me silly 'ead. 

'E sez 'e 'opes our lovin' will increase — 
I likes that pilot f er the things 'e said. 

'E sez Doreen an' me is in a boat, 

An' sailin' on the matrimonial sea. 
'E sez as 'ow 'e 'opes we'll alius float 

In peace an' joy, from storm an' danger free. 

Then muvver gits to weepin' in 'er tea; 
An' Auntie Liz sobs like a winded colt; 

An' Cousin Lil comes 'round an' kisses me ; 
Until I feel I'll 'ave to do a bolt. 



HITCHED 55 

Then Ginger gits end-up an' makes a speech — 

('E'd 'ad a couple, but 'e wasn't shick). 
"My cobber 'ere," 'e sez, " 'as copped a peach ! 

Of orl the barrer-load she is the pick! 

I 'opes 'e won't fergit 'is pals too quick 
As wus 'is frien's in olden days, becors, 

I'm trustin', later on," sez Ginger Mick, 
"To celebrate the chris'nin'." . . . 'Oly wars I 

At last Doreen an' me we gits away, 

An' leaves 'em doin' nothin' to the scran. 
(We're honey-moonin' down beside the Bay.) 

I gives a 'arf a dollar to the man 

Wot drives the cab; an' like two kids we ran 
To ketch the train — Ah, strike ! I could 'a' flown ! 

We gets the carridge right agen the van. 
She whistles, jolts, an' starts . . . An' we're alone! 

Doreen an' me! My precious bit o' fluff! 

Me own true weddid wife! . . . An' we're alone! 
She seems so frail, an' me so big an' rough — 

I dunno wot this feelin' is that's grown 

Inside me 'ere that makes me feel I own 
A thing so tender like I fear to squeeze 

Too 'ard fer fear she'll break . . . Then, wiv a groan 
I starts to 'ear a coot call, "Tickets, please !" 



56 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

You could 'a* outed me right on the spot ! 

I wus so rattled when that porter spoke. 
Fer, 'struth! them tickets I 'ad fair forgot! 

But 'e jist laughs, an' takes it fer a joke. 

"We must ixcuse," 'e sez, "new-married folk." 
An' I pays up, an' grins, an' blushes red. . . . 

It shows 'ow married life improves a bloke: 
If I'd bin single I'd 'a' punched 'is 'ead! 



Beef Tea 



SHE never magged ; she never said no word ; 
But sat an' looked at me an' never stirred. 
I could 'a' bluffed it out if she 'ad been 
Fair narked, an' let me 'ave it wiv 'er tongue ; 
But silence told me 'ow 'er 'eart wus wrung. 

Poor 'urt Doreen! 
Gorstruth ! I'd sooner fight wiv fifty men 
Than git one look like that frum 'er agen! 

She never moved; she never spoke no word; 
That 'urt look in 'er eyes, like some scared bird : 

" 'Ere is the man I loved," it seemed to say. 
" 'E's mine, this crawlin' thing, an' I'm 'is wife ; 
Tied up fer good; an' orl me joy in life 

Is chucked away!" 
If she 'ad bashed me I'd 'a' felt no 'urt! 
But 'ere she treats me like — like I wus dirt. 

'Ow is a man to guard agen that look? 
Fer other wimmin, when the'r blokes go crook. 
An' lobs 'ome wiv the wages uv a jag, 



57 



58 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

They smashes things an' carries on a treat, 

An' 'owls an' scolds an' wakes the bloomin' street 

Wiv noisy mag. 
But 'er — she never speaks; she never stirs . . . 
I drops me bundle . . . An' the game is 'ers. 

Jist two months wed ! Eight weeks uv married bliss 
Wiv my Doreen, an' now it's come to this ! 

Wot wus I thinkin' uv ? Gawd ! I ain't fit 
To kiss the place 'er little feet 'as been ! 
'Er that I called me wife, me own Doreen! 

Fond dreams 'as flit; 
Love's done a bunk, an' joy is up the pole ; 
An' shame an' sorrer's roostin' in me soul. 

'Twus orl becors uv Ginger Mick — the cow! 
(I wish't I 'ad 'im 'ere to deal wiv now ! 

I'd pass 'im one, I would! 'E ain't no man!) 
I meets 'im Choosdee ev'nin' up the town. 
''Wot O," 'e chips me. "Kin yeh keep one down?" 

I sez I can. 
We 'as a couple ; then meets three er four 
Flash coves I useter know, an' 'as some more. 

" 'Ow are yeh on a little gamble, Kid ?" 

Sez Ginger Mick. "Lars' night I'm on four quid. 

Come 'round an' try yer luck at Steeny's school." 



BEEF TEA 59 

''No," sez me conscience. Then I thinks, "Why not? 
An' buy 'er presents if I wins a pot?" 

A blazin' fool 
I wus. Fer 'arf a mo' I 'as a fight; 
Then conscience skies the wipe . . . Sez I "Orright." 

Ten minutes later I wus back once more, 
Kip in me 'and, on Steeny Isaacs' floor, 

Me luck was in an' I wus 'eadin' good. 
Yes, back agen amongst the same ole crew! 
An' orl the time down in me 'eart I knew 

I never should . . . 
Nex' thing I knows it's after two o'clock — 
Two in the mornin' ! An' I've done me block ! 

"Wot odds?" I thinks. "I'm in fer it orright." 
An' so I stops an' gambles orl the night; 

An' bribes me conscience wiv the gilt I wins. 
But when I comes out in the cold, 'ard dawn 
I know I've crooled me pitch ; me soul's in pawn. 

Me flamin' sins 
They 'its me in a 'eap right where I live; 
Fer I 'ave broke the solim vow I give. 

She never magged; she never said no word. 
An' when I speaks, it seems she never 'eard. 

I could 'a' sung a nim, I feels so gay! 



60 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

If she 'ad only roused I might 'a' smiled. 
She jist seems 'urt an' crushed ; not even riled. 

I turns away, 
An' yanks me carkis out into the yard, 
Like some whipped pup ; an' kicks meself reel 'ard. 



An' then I sneaks to bed, an' feels dead crook. 
Fer golden quids I couldn't face that look — 
That trouble in the eyes uv my Doreen. 
Aw, strike! Wot made me go an' do this thing? 
I feel jist like a chewed up bit of string, 

An' rotten mean ! 
Fer 'arf an hour I lies there f eelin' cheap ; 
An' then, I s'pose, I muster fell asleep. . . . 



" 'Ere, Kid, drink this" ... I wakes, an' lifts me 'ead, 
An' sees 'er standin' there beside the bed; 

A basin in 'er 'ands ; an' in 'er eyes — 
(Eyes that wiv unshed tears is shinin' wet) — 
The sorter look I never shall ferget. 

Until I dies. 
" 'Ere, Kid, drink this," she sez, an' smiles at me. 
I looks — an' spare me days! It wus beef -tea! 



BEEF TEA 61 

Beef-tea! She treats me like a hinvaleed! 
Me! that 'as caused 'er lovin' 'eart to bleed. 

It 'urts me worse than maggin' fer a week! 
'Er! 'oo 'ad right to turn dead sour on me, 
Fergives like that, an' feeds me wif beef -tea . . . 

I tries to speak; 
An' then — I ain't ashamed o' wot I did — 
I 'ides me face . . . an' blubbers like a kid. 



Uncle Jim 



*^^W^ GOT no time fer wasters, lad," sez 'e 

"Give me a man wiv grit," sez Uncle Jim. 
'E bores 'is cute ole eyes right into me, 

While I stares 'ard an' gives it back to 'im. 
Then orl at once 'e grips me 'and in 'is : 
"Some'ow," 'e sez, 'T likes yer ugly phiz." 



I 



"You got a look," 'e sez, **like you could stay; 

Altho' yeh mauls King's English when yeh yaps, 
An' 'angs flash frills on ev'rythink yeh say. 

I ain't no grammarist meself, per'aps, 
But langwidge is a 'elp, I owns," sez Unk, 
"When things is goin' crook." An' 'ere 'e wunk. 

"Yeh'll find it tough," 'e sez, "to knuckle down. 

Good farmin' is a gift — like spoutin' slang. 
Yeh'll 'ave to cut the luxuries o' town. 

An' chuck the manners of this back-street gang ; 
Fer country life ain't cigarettes and beer." 
"I'm game," I sez. Sez Uncle, "Put it 'ere!" 



62 



UNCLE JIM 63 

Like that I took the plunge, an' slung the game. 

I've parted wiv them joys I 'eld most dear; 
IVe sent the leery bloke that bore me name 

Clean to the pack wivout one pearly tear; 
An' frum the ashes of a ne'er-do-well 
A bloomin' farmer's blossomin' like 'ell. 

Farmer ! That's me ! Wiv this 'ere strong right 'and 
I've gripped the plough; and blistered jist a treat. 

Doreen an' me 'as gone upon the land. 
Yours truly fer the burden an' the 'eatT 

Yours truly fer upendin' chunks o' soil! 

The 'ealthy, 'ardy, 'appy son o' toil! 

I owns I've 'ankered fer me former joys; 

I've 'ad me hours o' broodin' on me woes ; 
I've missed the comp'ny, an' I've missed the noise, 

The football matches an' the picter shows. 
I've missed — but, say, it makes me feel fair mean 
To whip the cat; an' then see my Doreen. 

To see the colour comin' in 'er cheeks. 

To see 'er eyes grow brighter day be day, 

The new, glad way she looks an' laughs an' speaks 
Is worf ten times the things I've chucked away. 

An' there's a secret, whispered in the dark, 

'As made me 'eart sing like a flamin' lark. 



^ THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

Jist let me tell yeh 'ow it come about. 

The things that IVe been thro' 'ud fill a book. 
Right f rum me birf Fate played to knock me out ; 

The 'and that I 'ad dealt to me was crook! 
Then comes Doreen, an' patches up me parst; 
Now Forchin's come to bunk wiv me at larst 

First orf, one night poor Mar gits suddin fits, 
An' floats wivout the time to wave "good-byes." 

Doreen is orl broke up the day she flits; 
It tears me 'eart in two the way she cries. 

To see 'er grief, it almost made me glad 

I never knowed the mar I must 'ave 'ad. 

We done poor Muvver proud when she went out — 
A slap-up send-orf, trimmed wiv tears an' crape. 

An' then fer weeks Doreen she mopes about. 
An' life takes on a gloomy sorter shape. 

I watch 'er face git pale, 'er eyes grow dim; 

Till — like some 'airy angel — comes ole Jim. 

A cherub togged in sunburn an' a beard 

An' duds that shouted " 'Ayseed !" fer a mile : 

Care took the count the minute 'e appeared, 
An' sorrer shrivelled up before 'is smile, 

'E got the 'ammer-lock on my good-will 

The minute that 'e sez, "So, this is Bill." 



UNCLE JIM 65 

It's got me beat. Doreen's late Par, some way, 

Was second cousin to 'is bruwer's wife. 
Somethin' like that. In less than 'arf a day 

It seemed 'e'd been my uncle orl me life. 
'E takes me 'and : "I dunno 'ow it is," 
'E sez, "but, lad, I likes that ugly phiz." 

An' when 'e'd stayed wiv us a little while 
The 'ouse begun to look like 'ome once more. 

Doreen she brightens up beneath 'is smile, 
An' 'ugs 'im till I kids I'm gettin' sore. 

Then, late one night, 'e opens up 'is scheme, 

An' passes me wot looks like some fond dream. 

'E 'as a little fruit- farm, doin' well; 

'E saved a tidy bit to see 'im thro'; 
'E's gittin' old fer toil, an' wants a spell; 

An' 'ere's a 'ome jist waitin' fer us two. 
''It's 'ers an' yours fer keeps when I am gone," 
Sez Uncle Jim. "Lad, will ye take it on?" 

So that's the strength of it. An' 'ere's me now 

A flamin' berry farmer, full o' toil; 
Play in' joo-jitsoo wiv an 'orse an' plough. 

An' coaxin' fancy tucker frum the soil; 
An' longin', while I wrestles with the rake, 
Fer days when my poor back fergits to ache. 



66 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

Me days an* nights is full of schemes an' plans 
To figger profits an' cut out the loss ; 

An' when the pickin's on, I 'ave me 'an's 
To take me orders while I act the boss ; 

It's sorter sweet to 'ave the right to rouse^ . . 

An' my Doreen's the lady of the 'ouse. 

To see 'er bustlin' 'round about the place, 
Full of the simple joy o' doin' things. 

That thoughtful, 'appy look upon 'er face, 
That 'ope an' peace an' pride o' labour brings. 

Is worth the crowd of joys I knoo one time, 

An' makes regrettin' 'em seem like a crime. 

An' ev'ry little while ole Uncle Jim 
Comes up to stay a bit an' pass a tip. 

It gives us 'eart jist fer to look at 'im, 

An' feel the friendship in 'is warm 'and-grip. 

'Im, wiv the sunburn on 'is kind ole dile; 

'Im, wiv the sunbeams in 'is sweet ole smile, 

"I got no time fer wasters, lad," sez 'e, 

"But that there ugly mug o' yourn I trust." 

An' so I reckon that it's up to me 
To make a bloomin' do of it or bust. 

I got to take the back-ache wiv the rest, 

An' plug along, an' do me little best. 



UNCLE JIM 67 



Luck ain't no steady visitor, I know; 

But now an' then it calls — fer look at me! 
You would n't take me, 'bout a year ago, 

Free gratis wiv a shillin' pound o' tea ; 
Then, in a blessed 'eap, ole Forchin lands 
A missus an' a farm fair in me 'ands. 



M 



The Kid 



iY son ! . . . Them words, jist like a blessed song, 
Is singin' in me 'eart the ole day long; 

Over an' over; while I'm scared I'll wake 
Out of a dream, to find it all a fake. 



My son! Two little words, that, yesterdee, 
Wus jist two simple, senseless words to me; 

An' now — no man, not since the world begun, 
Made any better pray'r than that . . . My son! 

My son an* bloomin' 'eir . . . Ours! . . . *Ers an' mine! 

The finest kid in — Aw, the sun don't shine — 

Ther' ain't no joy fer me beneath the blue 
Unless I'm gazin' lovin' at them two. 

A little while ago it was jist "me" — 
A lonely, longin' streak o' misery. 

An' then 'twas *' 'er an' me" — ^Doreen, my wife ! 

An' now it's " 'im an' us" an* — sich is life. 



68 



THE KID 69 

But 'struth ! 'e is king-pin ! The *ead serang 1 

I mustn't tramp about, or talk no slang; 

I mustn't pinch 'is nose, or make a face, 

I mustn't — Strike ! 'E seems to own the place ! 

Ctmnin'? Yeh'd think, to look into 'is eyes, 
'E knoo the game clean thro' ; 'e seems that wise. 
Wiv 'er an' nurse 'e is the leadin' man, 
An' poor ole dad's amongst the "also ran." 

"Goog, goo," 'e sez, an' curls 'is cunnin' toes. 
Yeh'd be su'prised the 'eaps o' things 'e knows. 

I'll swear 'e tumbles I'm 'is father, too ; 

The way 'e squints at me, an' sez, "Goog, goo." 

Why! 'smomin', 'ere 'is lordship gits a grip 

Fair on me finger — give it quite a nip! 

An' when I tugs, 'e won't let go 'is holdl 

'Angs on like that! An' 'im not three weeks old! 

"Goog, goo," 'e sez. I'll swear yeh never did 

In all yer natcheril, see sich a kid. 

The cunnin' ways 'e's got ; the knowin' stare — 
Ther' ain't a youngster like 'im (mywhere! 



70 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

An' when 'e gets a little pain inside, 

'Is dead straight griffin ain't to be denied. 

I'm sent to talk sweet nuffin's to the fowls ; 

While nurse turns 'and-springs ev'ry time 'e 'owls. 

But say, I tell yeh straight ... I been thro' 'ell! 
The things I thort I wouldn't dare to tell 

Lest, in the tellin' I might feel again. 

One little part of all that fear an' pain. 

It come so sudden that I lorst me block. 

First, it was, 'Ell-fer-leather to the doc, 

'Oo took it all so calm 'e made me curse — 
An' then I sprints like mad to get the nurse. 

By gum; that woman! But she beat me flat! 

A man's jist putty in a game like that. 

She owned me 'appy 'ome almost before 
She fairly got 'er nose inside me door. 

Sweatin' I was ; but cold wiv fear inside — 
An' then, to think a man could be denied 

'Is wife an' 'ome an' told to fade away 
By jist one fat ole nurse 'oo's in 'is pay! 



THE KID 71 

I wus too weak wiv funk to start an' rouse. 
'Struth ! Ain't a man the boss in 'is own 'ouse ? 

"You go an' chase yerself !" she tips me straight. 

"Ther's nothin' now fer you to do but — wait." 

Wait ? . . . Gawd ! . . . I never knoo wot waitin' meant. 
In all me life, till that day I was sent 

To loaf around, while there inside — Aw, strike ! 

I couldn't tell yeh wot that hour was like! 

Three times I comes to Ifsten at the door; 

Three times I drags meself away once more; 

'Arf dead wiv fear ; 'arf filled wiv tremblin' joy . . , 
An' then she beckons me, an' sez — "A boy!" 

''A boy!" she sez. "An' bofe is doin' well!" 
I drops into a chair, an' jist sez — " 'Ell!" 

It was a pray'r. I feels bofe crook an' glad. . . . 

An' that's the strength of bein' made a dad. 

I thinks of church, when in that room I goes, 
'Oldin' me breaf an' walkin' on me toes. 

Fer 'arf a mo' I feared me nerve 'ud fail 

To see 'er lying there so still an' pale. 



72 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

She looks so frail, at first, I dursn't stir. 
An' then, I leans acrost an' kisses 'er; 

An' all the room gits sorter blurred an' dim . . . 

She smiles, an' moves 'er 'ead. "Dear lad! Kiss 'im.' 

Near smothered in a ton of snowy clothes. 
First thing, I sees a btmch o' stubby toes. 

Bald 'ead, termater face, an' two big eyes. 

"Look, Kid," she smiles at me. "Ain't 'e a size?" 

'E didn't seem no sorter size to me; 

But yet, I speak no lie when I agree ; 

" 'E is," I sez, an' smiles back at Doreen, 
"The biggest nipper fer 'is age I've seen." 

She turns away ; 'er eyes is brimmin' wet. 

"Our little son !" she sez. "Our precious pet !" 

An' then, I seen a great big drop roll down 
An' fall — ^kersplosh ! — fair on 'is nibs's crown. 

An' still she smiles. "A lucky sign," she said. 

"Somewhere, in some ole book, one time I read, 

*The child will sure be blest all thro' the years 
Who's christened wiv 'is mother's 'appy tears.' " 



THE KID 73 

"Kiss 'im," she sez. I was afraid to take 

Too big a mouthful of 'im, fear 'e'd break. 
An' when 'e gits a fair look at me phiz 
'E puckers up 'is nose, an' then — Geewhizz! 

'Ow did 'e 'owl! In 'arf a second more 

Nurse 'ad me 'ustled clean outside the door. 

Scarce knowin' 'ow, I gits out in the yard. 
An' leans agen the fence an' thinks reel 'ard. 

A long, long time I looks at my two 'ands. 

"They're all I got," I thinks, "they're all that stands 

Twixt this 'ard world an' them I calls me own. 

An' fer their sakes I'll work 'em to the bone." 

Them vows an' things sounds like a lot o' guff. 
Maybe, it's foolish thinkin' all this stuff — 

Maybe, it's childish-like to scheme an' plan; 

But — I dunno — it's that way wiv a man. 

I only know that kid belongs to me ! 
We ain't decided yet wot 'e's to be. 

Doreen, she sez 'e's got a poit's eyes ; 

But I ain't got much use fer them soft guys. 



74 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

I think we ort to make 'im something great—- 
A bookie, or a champeen 'eavy-weight : 

Some callin' that'll give 'im room to spread. 

A fool could see 'e's got a clever 'ead. 

I knows 'e's good an' honest; for 'is eyes 
Is jist like 'ers; so big an' lovin'-wise; 

They carries peace an' trust where e'er they goes. 

An' say, the nurse she sez 'e's got my nose! 

Dead ring fer me ole conk, she sez it is. 
More like a blob of putty on 'is phiz, 

I think. But 'e's a fair 'ard case, all right. 

I'll swear I thort 'e wunk at me last night! 

My wife an' fam'ly! Don't it sound all right! 

That's wot I whispers to meself at night. 

Some day, I s'pose, I'll learn to say it loud 
An' careless ; kiddin' that I don't feel proud. 

My son! ... If ther's a Gawd 'Oo's leanin' near 

To watch our dilly little lives down 'ere, 

'E smiles, I guess, if 'E's a lovin' one — 

Smiles, friendly-like, to 'ear them words — My son. 



The Mooch o' Life 



THIS ev'nin' I was sittin' wiv Doreen, 
Peaceful an' 'appy wiv the day's work done, 
Watchin', be'ind the orchard's bonzer green, 
The flamin' wonder of the settin' sun. 

Another day gone by; another night 
Creepin' along to douse Day's golden light ; 
Another dawnin', when the night is gone, 
To live an' love — an' so life mooches on. 

Times I 'ave thought, when things was goin' crook, 
When 'Ope turned nark an' Love forgot to smile. 

Of somethin' I once seen in some ole book 

Where an ole sore-'ead arsts, "Is Hfe worf w'ile?" 

But in that stillness, as the day grows dim, 
An' I am sittin' there wiv 'er an' 'im — 

My wife, my son ! an' strength in me to strive, 

I only know — it's good to be alive! 



75 



76 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

Yeh live, yeh love, yeh learn; an' when yeh come 
To square the ledger in some thortful hour, 

The everlastin' answer to the sum 

Must alius be, "Where's sense in gittin' sour?" 

Fer when yeh've come to weigh the good an' bad — 
The gladness wiv the sadness you 'ave 'ad — 
Then 'im 'oo's faith in 'uman goodness fails 
Fergits to put 'is liver in the scales. 

Livin' an' lovin' ; learnin' day be day ; 

Pausin' a minute in the barmy strife 
To find that 'elpin' others on the way 

Is gold coined fer your profit — sich is life. 

I've studied books wiv yeamin's to improve, 
To 'eave meself out of me lowly groove. 
An' 'ere is orl the change I ever got: 
" 'Ark at yer 'eart, an' you kin learn the lot." 

I gives it in — that wisdom o' the mind — 
I wasn't built to play no lofty part. 

Orl such is welkim to the joys they find ; 
I only know the wisdom o' the 'eart. 



THE MOOCH O' LIFE 11 

An' ever it 'as taught me, day be day, . 
The one same lesson in the same ole way : 

"Look fer yer profits in the 'earts o' friends, 

Fer 'atin' never paid no dividends." 

Life's wot yeh make it; an' the bloke 'oo tries 
To grab the shinin' stars frum out the skies 

Goes crook on life, an' calls the world a cheat. 

An' tramples on the daisies at 'is feet. 

But when the moon comes creepin' o'er the hill. 
An' when the mopoke calls along the creek, 

I takes me cup o' joy an' drinks me fill. 
An' arsts meself wot better could I seek. 



An' ev'ry song I 'ear the thrushes sing 
That everlastin' message seems to bring; 
An' ev'ry wind that whispers in the trees 
Gives me the tip there ain't no joys like these 

Livin' an' lovin' ; wand'rin' on yer way ; 

Reapin' the 'arvest of a kind deed done ; 
An' watchin', in the sundown of yer day, 

Yerself again, grown nobler in yer son. 



78 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

Knowin' that ev'ry coin o' kindness spent 
Bears interest in yer 'eart at cent per cent; 
Measurin' wisdom by the peace it brings 
To simple minds that values simple things. 

An' when I take a look along the way 

That I 'ave trod, it seems the man knows best, 

Who's met wiv slabs of sorrer in 'is day, 
When 'e is truly rich an' truly blest. 

An' I am rich, becos me eyes 'ave seen 
The lovelight in the eyes of my Doreen; 
An' I am blest, becos me feet 'ave trod 
A land 'oo's fields reflect the smile o' God. 

Livin' an' lovin'; leamin' to fergive 

The deeds an' words of some un'appy bloke 

Who's missed the bus — so 'ave I come to live. 
An' take the 'ole mad world as 'arf a joke. 



Sittin' at ev'nin' in this sunset-land, 

Wiv 'Er in all the World to 'old me 'and, 

A son, to bear me name when I am gone. 

Livin' an' lovin' — so life mooches on. 



THE GLOSSARY 



GLOSSARY 

Also ran, The. — On the turf^ horses that fail to secure a leading 

place; hence, obscure persons, nonentities. 
*Ammer-lock (Hammer-lock). — A favourite and effective hold in 

wrestling. 
Ar. — An exclamation expressing joy, sorrow, surprise, &c., according 

to the manner of utterance. 
'Ard Case (Hard Case). — A shrewd or humorous person. 
'Ayseed (Hayseed). — A rustic. 

Back Chat. — Impudent repartee. 

Back and Fill. — To vacillate; to shuffle. 

Back the Barren — To intervene without invitation. 

Barmy (Balmy). — Foolish; silly. 

Beak. — A magistrate. (Possibly from Anglo-Saxon, Beag — a magis- 
trate). 

Beano. — A feast. 

Beat, off the. — Out of the usual routine. 

Beef (to beef it out). — To declaim vociferously. 

Bellers. — The lungs. 

Biff. — To smite. 

Bli' me. — An oath with the fangs drawn. 

Block. — The head. To lose or do in the block. — To become flustered; 
excited; angry; to lose confidence. To keep the block. — To re- 
main calm; dispassionate. 

Blob. — A shapeless mass. 

Bloke. — A male adult of the genus homo. 

Blubber, blub. — To weep. 

Bluff. — Cunning practice; make-believe, v. To deceive; to mislead. 

Boko. — The nose. 

81 



82 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

Bonzer, boshter, bosker. — Adjectives expressing the superlative of 

excellence. 
Bong-tong. — Patrician (Fr. bon ton). 
Bookie. — A book-maker (turf); one who makes a betting book on 

sporting events. 
Boot, to put in the. — To kick a prostrate foe. 
Boss. — Master; employer. 

Break. — (To break away, to do a break); to depart in haste. 
Breast up to. — To accost. 
Brisket. — The chest. 
Brown. — A copper coin. 

Brums. — Tawdry finery (from Brummagen — Birmingham). 
Buckley's (Chance). — A forlorn hope. 
Bun, to take the. — To take the prize (used ironically). 
Bunk. — To sleep in a "bunk" or rough bed. 
Bundle, to drop the. — To surrender; to give up hope. 
Bunnies, to hawk the. — To peddle rabbits. 
Bus, to miss the. — To neglect opportunities. 

Cat, to whip the. — To cry over spilt milk; i.e., to whip the cat that 

has spilt the milk. 
Cert, — A certainty; a foregone conclusion. 
Champeen. — Champion. 

Chase yourself. — Depart; avaunt; "fade away/* q.v. 
Chat. — To address tentatively; to "word," q.v. 
Cheque, to pass in one's. — To depart this life. 
Chew, to chew it over; to chew the rag. — To sulk; to nurse a 

grievance. 
Chiack. — Vulgar banter; coarse invective. 
Chin. — To talk excessively; to wag the chin. 
Chip. — To "chat," q.v. Chip in. — To intervene. 

Chuck up. — To relinquish. Chuck off. — ^To chaff; to employ sarcasm. 
Chump. — A foolish fellow. 



GLOSSARY 83 

Chunk. — A lump; a mass. 

Clean. — Completely; utterly. 

Click. — A clique; a "push." 

Cliner. — A young unmarried female. 

Clobber. — Raiment; vesture. 

Cobber. — A boon companion. 

Colour-line. — In pugilism; the line drawn by white boxers excluding 

coloured fighters — for divers reasons. 
Conk. — The nose. 

Coot. — A person of no account (used contemptuously). 
Cop. — To seize; to secure; also, s., an avocation, a "job." 
Cop (or Copper). — A police constable. 
Count, to take the. — In pugilism; to remain prostrate for ten counted 

seconds, and thus lose the fight. 
Cove.— A "chap" or "bloke." q.v. (Gipsy). 
Cow. — A thoroughly unworthy, not to say despicable person, place, 

thing or circumstance. A fair cow. — An utterly obnoxious and 

otherwise unexpressible person, place, thing or circumstance. 
Crack. — To smite, s. A blow. 

Crack a boo. — To divulge a secret; to betray emotion. 
Crook. — Unwell; dishonest; spurious; fraudulent. Superlative, Dead 

Crook. 
Crool (cruel) the pitch. — To frustrate; to interfere with one's 

schemes or welfare. 

Dago. — A native of Southern Europe. 

Dash, to do one's. — To reach one's Waterloo. 

Dawg (dog). — A contemptible person. To put on dawg. — ^To behave 

in an arrogant manner. 
Dead. — In a superlative degree; very. 

Deal. — To deal it out; to administer punishment; abuse, &c. 
Deener. — A shilling (Fr. Denier. Denarius, a Roman silver coin). 
Derry. — An aversion; a feud; a dislike. 



84 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

Dile (dial).— The face. 

Dilly. — Foolish; half-witted. 

Ding Dong. — Strenuous. 

Dirt. — Opprobrium; a mean speech or action. 

Dirty left. — A formidable left fist. 

Dope. — A drug; adulterated liquor, v. To administer drugs. 

Douse. — To extinguish (Anglo-Saxon). 

Duck, to do a. — (See "break.") 

Duds. — Personal apparel (Scotch). 

Dunno. — Do not know. 

'Eadin*. — "Heading browns;" tossing pennies. 
'Ead over turkey. — Heels over head. 
*Ead Serang. — The chief; the leader. 
'Eavyweight. — A boxer of the heaviest class. 
*E11 fer leather. — In extreme haste. 
End up, to get. — To rise to one's feet. 

Fade away, to. — To retire; to withdraw. 

Fag. — A cigarette. 

Fair. — Extreme; positive. 

Fair thing. — A wise proceeding; an obvious duty. 

Fake. — A swindle; a hoax. 

Finger. — An eccentric or amusing person. 

Flash. — Ostentatious; showy but counterfeit. 

Float, to. — To give up the ghost. 

Fluff, a bit of. — A young female person. 

Foot (me foot). — A term expressing ridicule. 

Frill. — Affectation. 

Funk, to. — To fear; to lose courage. 

Game. — Occupation; scheme; design. 

Gazob. — A fool; a blunderer. 

Geewhizz. — Exclamation expressing surprise. 



GLOSSARY 85 

Get, to do a. — To retreat hastily. 

Gilt. — Money; wealth. 

Gizzard. — The heart. 

Glarssy. — The glassy eye; a glance of cold disdain. The Glassey 

Alley. — The favourite; the most admired. 
Gone. — Fair gone; overcome as with emotion. 
Gorspil-cove. — A minister of the Gospel. 
Griffin, the straight. — The truth; secret information. 
Grip. — Occupation; employment. 
Groggy. — Unsteady; dazed. 
Guff. — Nonsense. 
Guy. — A foolish fellow. 
Guy, to do a. — To retire. 
Guyver. — Make-believe. 

Handles. — A fondling of hands between lovers. 

Hitch, to. — To wed. 

Hitched. — Entangled in the bonds of holy matrimony. 

Hump, the, — A fit of depression. 

Hump, to. — To carry as a swag or other burden. 

Intro. — Introduction; knock-down. q.v. 

It (to be it). — To assume a position of supreme importance. 

Jab. — To strike smartly. 

Jiff. — A very brief period. 

Job, to. — To smite. 

Joes. — Melancholy thoughts. 

Joint, to jump the. — To assume command; to occupy the "joint," i.e., 

establishment, situation, place of business. 
Jolt, to pass a. — To deliver a short, sharp blow. 
Jorb (job). — Avocation; employment. 

Keekin*. — Peeping. 

Keeps, for. — For ever; permanently. 



86 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

Kersplosh. — Splash. 

Kid.— A child; also, deception^ make-believe. 

Kid, to. — To deceive; to persuade by flattery. 

King Pin. — The leader; the person of chief importance. 

Kip. — ^A small chip used for tossing pennies in the occult game of 

two-up. 
Kipsie. — A house; the home. 
Knock-down. — A ceremony insisted upon by ladies who decline to 

be "picked up;" a formal introduction. 
Knock-out drops. — Drugged or impure liquor. 

Lash. — ^Violence. 

Lcdding. — Leaden. 

Leery. — Vulgar; low. 

Lid. — ^The hat. To dip the lid. — To raise the hat. 

Line up. — To approach; to accost. 

Lip. — Impertinence; to give it lip; to talk vociferously. 

Little Bourke. — Little Bourke Street, Melbourne, Australia. 

Little Lon. — Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Australia. 

Lob, to. — To arrive. 

Liimme. — Love me. 

Lurk. — A plan of action; a regular occupation. 

Mag. — To scold or talk noisily. 

Mash. — To woo; to pay court, s. A lover. 

Maul. — To lay hands upon, either violently or with affection. 

Meet, a. — An assignation. 

Mill. — A bout of fisticuffs. 

Mix. — To mix it; to fight strenuously. 

Mo. — Abbreviation of "moment." 

Moniker. — A name; a title; a signature. 

Mooch. — To saunter about aimlessly. 

Moon. — To loiter. 



GLOSSARY 87 

Mud, my name is. — i.e., I am utterly discredited. 
Mug. — A fool; also the mouth. 
Mug, to. — To kiss. 

Nark. — s. a spoil-sport; a churlish fellow. 

Nark, to. — To annoy; to foil. 

Narked. — Angered; foiled. 

Natchril. — Natural. 

Neck, to get in the. — To receive severe punishment, i.e., "Where the 

chicken got the axe." 
Nerve. — Confidence; impudence. 
Nose around, to. — To seek out inquisitively. 
Nothing (ironically.) — Literally "something considerable." 

Orfis (office). — A warning; a word of advice; a hint. 
Oriole (oracle), to work the. — To secure desired results. 
Out, to. — ^To render unconscious with a blow. 
Out, all. — Quite exhausted; fully extended. 

Pack, to send to the. — To relegate to obscurity. 

Pal. — A friend; a mate (Gipsy). 

Pass (pass 'im one). — To deliver a blow. 

Peach. — A desirable young woman; "fresh as a peach." 

Phiz.— The face. 

Pick up, to. — To dispense with the ceremony of a "knock-down" or 

introduction. 
Pilot cove. — A clergyman. 
Pile it on. — To rant; to exaggerate. 
Pip. — A fit of melancholy. 

Plunk. — An exclamation expressing the impact of a blow. 
Plug. — To smite with the fist. 
Plug along, to. — To proceed doggedly. 

Point. — The region of the jaw; much sought after by pugilists. 
Point, to. — To seize unfair advantage; to scheme. 



88 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

Pole, up the. — Bistraught through anger, fear. &c. 

Pot, a. — A considerable amount; as a "pot of money." 

Pot, the old. — The male parent (from "Rhyming Slang," the "old pot 

and pan" — the "old man."). 
Pull, to take a. — To desist; to discontinue. 
Punter. — The natural prey of a "bookie." q.v. 
Push. — A company of rowdy fellows gathered together for ungentle 

purposes. 

Queer the pitch. — To frustrate; to fool. 
Quid. — A sovereign, or pound sterling. 

Rabbit, to run the. — To convey liquor from a public-house. 

Rag, to chew the. — ^To grieve; to brood. 

Rag, to sky the. — To throw a towel into the air in token of surrender 

(pugilism). 
Rattled. — Excited; confused. 
Registry. — The office of a Registrar. 
Ribuck. — An interjection signifying assent. 
Rile. — To annoy. Riled. — Roused to anger. 
Ring, the dead. — A remarkable likeness. 
Roust or rouse. — To upbraid with many words. 
Run against. — To meet more or less unexpectedly. 

School. — A club; a clique of gamblers, or others. 

Scran. — Food. 

Scrap. — Fight. 

Set, to. — To attack; to regard with disfavour. 

Set, to have. — To have marked down for punishment or revenge. 

Shick, shicker. — Intoxicated. 

Shook. — Stolen: disturbed. 

Shook on. — Infatuated. 

Shyin*, or Shine. — Excellent; desirable. 

Sight. — To tolerate; to permit; also to see; observe. 



GLOSSARY 89 

Sky, to wipe.— See "Rag." 

Skirt, or bit of skirt. — A female. 

Skite. — To boast. Skiter. — A boaster. 

Slanter. — Spurious; unfair. 

Slap-up. — Admirable; excellent. 

Slope, to. — To elope; to leave in haste. 

Smooge. — To flatter or fawn; to bill and coo, 

Smooger. — A sycophant; a courtier. 

Snide. — Inferior; of no account. 

Snout. — To bear a grudge. 

SnuflF, or snuff it. — To expire. 

Sore, to get. — To become aggrieved. 

Sore-head. — A curmudgeon. 

Sour, to turn, or get. — To become pessimistic or discontented. 

Spank. — To chastise maternal-wise. 

Spar. — A gentle bout at fisticuffs. 

Spare me days. — A pious ejaculation. 

Splice. — To join in holy matrimony. 

Spout. — To preach or speak at length. 

Sprag. — To accost truculently. 

Spruik. — To deliver a speech, as a showman. 

Square. — Upright; honest. 

Square an* all. — Of a truth; verily. 

Squiz. — A brief glance. 

Stiffened. — Bought over. 

Stoush. — To punch with the fist. s. Violence. 

Straight, on the. — In fair and honest fashion. 

Strangle-hold. — An ungentle embrace in wrestling. 

Strength of it. — The truth of it; the value of it. 

Stretch, to do a. — To serve a term of imprisonment. 

Strike. — The innocuous remnant of a hardy curse. 

Strong, going. — Proceeding with vigour. 



90 THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE 

*Struth. — An emaciated oath. 

Stunt. — A performance; a tale. 

Swig. — A draught of water or other liquid. 

Take 'em on. — Engage them in battle. 

Tart. — A young woman (contraction of sweetheart). 

Time, to do. — To serve a term in prison. 

Time, to have no time for. — To regard with impatient disfavour. 

Tip. — To forecast; to give; to warn. 

Tip. — A warning; a prognostication; a hint. 

Tofif. — An exalted person. 

Togs. — Clothes. 

Togged. — Garbed. 

Tom. — A girl. 

Top, off the. — Mentally deficient. 

Touch. — Manner; mode; fashion. 

Tough. — Unfortunate; hardy; also a "tug." q.v. 

Tough luck. — Misfortune. 

Track with. — To woo; to "go walking with." 

Treat, a. — Excessively; abundantly. 

Tug. — An uncouth fellow; a hardy rogue. 

Tumble to, or to take a tumble. — To comprehend suddenly. 

Turkey, head over. — Heels over head. 

Turn down. — To reject; to dismiss. 

Up to me. — My turn; my duty. 

Waster. — A reprobate; an utterly useless and unworthy person. 

Waterworks, turn on the. — To shed tears. 

Wet, to get. — To become incensed; ill-tempered. 

White-headed boy. — A favourite; a pet. 

Wise, to get. — To comprehend; to unmask deceit. 

Word. — To accost with fair speech. 

Yap.— To talk volubly. 



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